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Dietary advice and more

S

Sarahswim

Member
Messages
21
Hi,
So I had my appointment with the nurse, she was going to give me a monitor then changed her mind.

She told me to loose weight, gave me a food fact sheet and said come back in 3 months time.

I was given Gliclazide 40mg twice a day.

I was confused before but now feel a bit overwhelmed, I think I thought she would go into a bit more detail.

Can you point me in the direction of what I should and shouldn't be eating and do you think it would benefit me from buying a monitor?

Thank you so much, I don't know what I would do without this forum.
 
Sarahswim said:
Hi,
So I had my appointment with the nurse, she was going to give me a monitor then changed her mind.

She told me to loose weight, gave me a food fact sheet and said come back in 3 months time.

I was given Gliclazide 40mg twice a day.

I was confused before but now feel a bit overwhelmed, I think I thought she would go into a bit more detail.

Can you point me in the direction of what I should and shouldn't be eating and do you think it would benefit me from buying a monitor?

Thank you so much, I don't know what I would do without this forum.
Click to expand...


Forgot to add I am 98 level newly diagnosed and she said come back in 3months
 
Sarahswim said:
So I had my appointment with the nurse, she was going to give me a monitor then changed her mind.


I was given Gliclazide 40mg twice a day.
Click to expand...
If you've been prescribed gliclazide you really should've also been given a meter and prescribed test strips as gliclazide can cause hypos, you really need to talk to your nurse/doctors about that.

Edit: I'm sure others will reply soon about dietary advice :)
 
Hi @Sarahswim

Thanks for the update. If you’ve been given gliclazide then you should have been given a meter as it is a blood glucose lowering medication.

So far as what to eat, for type 2s then a low carbohydrate diet works well, but it is more complex when on medication that reduces blood glucose because of the risk of hypoglycaemia.

Dietdoctor.com is a good source of information but proceed with caution on your medication - you really do need that meter and shouldn’t need to self-fund if being given gliclazide.
 
Low carb will certainly help to bring your numbers down, I wouldn't take glicazide without a meter

If they do give you a meter, they are unlikely to provide you with sufficient test strips.

I would consider getting my own if I were you.
 
Sarahswim said:
Forgot to add I am 98 level newly diagnosed and she said come back in 3months
Click to expand...

Sarah - Do you drive? If you do drive, then you must have a meter to test whilst you are taking Gliclazide.
 
As to the other part of your question re food see these links. I’m kind of worried what rubbish might be on that food list.....

Intro to T2 and low carb. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/
All the things I wish I’d been told earlier https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/th...ish-i’d-been-told-at-type-2-diagnosis.173817/

With regards to the gliclazide - Quite a lot of others in here with same or higher numbers were given 3 months lifestyle changes before heading straight to quite a strong medication like glicazide . Did she even mention that option? Were others discussed? Metformin? Ultimately it’s your choice, her recommendation only. Personally knowing what I do now about low carb that would be my first step every time before considering if I still needed meds or not after that step. Many nurses just assume people aren’t motivated to change foods or even worse don’t know how well it works.
 
Hi. Ye4s it's a bit unusual to start you immediately on Gliclazide but the dose you are having is at the lower end (I had 320mg/day before I started insulin). You must have a meter and tell the DVLA. The diet should be low carb with enough fat and protein to keep you feeling full. The meter will enable you watch out for a hypo; have more carb if needed to avoid that.
 
Sarahswim said:
Hi,
So I had my appointment with the nurse, she was going to give me a monitor then changed her mind.

She told me to loose weight, gave me a food fact sheet and said come back in 3 months time.

I was given Gliclazide 40mg twice a day.

I was confused before but now feel a bit overwhelmed, I think I thought she would go into a bit more detail.

Can you point me in the direction of what I should and shouldn't be eating and do you think it would benefit me from buying a monitor?

Thank you so much, I don't know what I would do without this forum.
Click to expand...

As everyone has already stated, you need a meter, that's some pretty poor practice by your DN to not give you one. I'd be calling back about a meter.

Not uncommon to be handed a pamphlet and told, off ya go with little to no details. Your on your own. See ya in 3 month, oh and lose weight.

Check out the link below in red, well written dietary piece by @JoKalsbeek on diet. It's solid advice imo.
 
Rokaab said:
If you've been prescribed gliclazide you really should've also been given a meter and prescribed test strips as gliclazide can cause hypos, you really need to talk to your nurse/doctors about that.

Edit: I'm sure others will reply soon about dietary advice :)
Click to expand...
If you drive YOU MUST have a meter on gliclazide as you must test before driving, and levels must be above 5mmol (in the UK), get in touch with her/go back and insist that you are prescribed one and sufficient strips too
 
Actually you must be above 4mmol to drive and if under 5 you need to take a snack to raise it before setting off. If you hypo whilst driving you must return to 5 and be there 45mins before resuming. This is for insul8n users.

https://www.gov.uk/diabetes-driving

https://assets.publishing.service.g...e-to-insulin-treated-diabetes-and-driving.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.g...vers-with-diabetes-treated-by-non-insulin.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/diabete...etes-treated-by-medication-other-than-insulin. Which says for sulphonylureas and glinides for groups 1 (car) use - May drive and need not notify the DVLA, provided:

■ no more than 1 episode of severe hypoglycaemia while awake in the last 12 months and the most recent episode occurred more than 3 months ago
■ should practise appropriate glucose monitoring at times relevant to driving
■ under regular review.

It is appropriate to offer self monitoring of blood glucose at times relevant to driving to enable the detection of hypoglycaemia.

If the above requirements and those set out in Appendix D are met, the DVLA need not be informed.
 
Last edited:
Unfortunately if you are type two then the ideal diet is low in carbohydrate, but if you are prescribed Gliclazide you are instructed on the information in the box not to eat a low carb diet because it lowers glucose - so well done that nurse, and not giving you a meter - well that just takes the biscuit.
If you take the Gliclazide you need a meter as you risk hypos - so I'd say go to your GP and try to get the situation sorted out properly.
 
Resurgam said:
Unfortunately if you are type two then the ideal diet is low in carbohydrate, but if you are prescribed Gliclazide you are instructed on the information in the box not to eat a low carb diet because it lowers glucose - so well done that nurse, and not giving you a meter - well that just takes the biscuit.
If you take the Gliclazide you need a meter as you risk hypos - so I'd say go to your GP and try to get the situation sorted out properly.
Click to expand...
This ^^^^^^. Don’t do it with diet do it with drugs is the message being sent.

Absolutely crazy, especially if diet change hasn’t even been tried yet or suggested.

Makes me so mad (furious one fact) they they decide what you are prepared to try and what you aren’t without giving you any choices. Like you are a child incapable of making decisions for ourself which approach you want to try.
 
I'm surprised they jumped straight to gliclazide: my dad is on glics, but only after the metformin and high-carb diet the doctors put him on wasn't enough. Also, glics, unlike metformin, really put you at a risk of hypos, so not the nurse not providing you with a meter seems like another odd decision. I would personally call back about getting a meter, (if that doesn't work, you can get your own) and perhaps try to talk to a doctor.
To be honest, doctors aren't always great with diabetes, but your nurse seems to be making strange choices by any standard.
Nothing to panic about, but I think you have every right to make polite enquiries into how to best manage your condition. The doctor may be more use.
 
Rokaab said:
If you've been prescribed gliclazide you really should've also been given a meter and prescribed test strips as gliclazide can cause hypos, you really need to talk to your nurse/doctors about that.

Edit: I'm sure others will reply soon about dietary advice :)
Click to expand...

I have been given a meter now, readings around 17
 
Goonergal said:
Hi @Sarahswim

Thanks for the update. If you’ve been given gliclazide then you should have been given a meter as it is a blood glucose lowering medication.

So far as what to eat, for type 2s then a low carbohydrate diet works well, but it is more complex when on medication that reduces blood glucose because of the risk of hypoglycaemia.

Dietdoctor.com is a good source of information but proceed with caution on your medication - you really do need that meter and shouldn’t need to self-fund if being given gliclazide.
Click to expand...

Thank you I have been given a meter now average levels are 17
 
HSSS said:
As to the other part of your question re food see these links. I’m kind of worried what rubbish might be on that food list.....

Intro to T2 and low carb. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/
All the things I wish I’d been told earlier https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/th...ish-i’d-been-told-at-type-2-diagnosis.173817/

With regards to the gliclazide - Quite a lot of others in here with same or higher numbers were given 3 months lifestyle changes before heading straight to quite a strong medication like glicazide . Did she even mention that option? Were others discussed? Metformin? Ultimately it’s your choice, her recommendation only. Personally knowing what I do now about low carb that would be my first step every time before considering if I still needed meds or not after that step. Many nurses just assume people aren’t motivated to change foods or even worse don’t know how well it works.
Click to expand...

Hi
I was initially told I was going on Metaformin but when I picked up my prescription it was glicazide.
I have a meter now levels are around 17 and am trying to eat low carbs
 
bulkbiker said:
Is that with the Gliclazide?
What kind of things are you eating?
Click to expand...

Today
Weetabix
Cheese, cucumber, apple
Mackerel, leeks, courgettes, broccoli
Greek Yoghurt with blueberries
Almonds

That is my first day of trying to eat what I should, is that right? Before my diet was full of carbs and sugar
 
That is looking good for a first day.
I would have Bacon and eggs or Greek yogurt for breakfast. Weetabix is not ideal for Type 2 diabetics.
but you will find that out if you test before your first bite and two hours after. If the rise is more then 2 it’s time to find something else to eat.
 
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